Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Chado Ralph Rucci

I love this Chado Ralph Rucci dress.

My local library has added the Vogue Patterns catalog among their magazine selections. I have never seen this at a library before but I think it’s great! A flip through it made a dress catch my eye and reminded me I own this pattern. I have been so busy with kid stuff—including trying to get my son into middle school in NYC—that my Chanel jacket is on hiatus while I figure out if I should rework the muslin I made or start over with a different pattern altogether. God knows I don’t have time to make this lovely Chado Ralph Rucci dress but I just love the look of it. I’d make it in black (or midnight blue) of course.

Ralph Rucci is an American couturier and was inducted to the Fashion Walk of Fame in New York City in 2011—I have to go see if they’ve installed his plaque on Seventh Avenue yet. He is the only American since Mainbocher to have his clothes receive the haute couture designation by the Parisian syndicate and to show his collection in Paris during haute couture week.

There is a documentary about him, A Quiet American: Ralph Rucci and Paris, that I am dying to see. Unfortunately I missed a showing of it at FIT last October but maybe they will screen it again. It follows him and his work over the course of four years. I need to see this film!

The back of the pattern envelope.

Michelle Dockery in vintage Chado Ralph Rucci. Gorgeous!

If you caught sight of Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery in her stunning black dress at the SAG Awards in January, you have seen the gifted Mr. Rucci’s work. Ms. Dockery wore a Chado Ralph Rucci from the 1990s. (Completely unrelated side note: If you liked her makeup and hair that night you must read the background on it over at Into the Gloss.) I think she looked gorgeous. I usually despise seeing actresses wear black on the red carpet, but the Ralph Rucci dress was so special that it was one of those dresses that made me think black could never, ever be boring.

The cutouts make this dress so special.

I know this might be too much side boob for some but I still think Michelle looks divine!

6 comments:

I wish I could sew, Jill! I would tackle that look in a minute..it is gorgeous. HOWEVER, the other dress is WAY TOO much side boob...it kills the look!! Sorry if I sound old and stodgy!! have a great Tuesday!

I use to sew a lot of my clothes. Perhaps I'll give it another whirl. It's so wonderful to be able to make the style you want in the exact colour and fabric you want. The dress is gorgeous. Lots of side breast cleavage yes, but classier than a lot of what's shown these days!Have a fabulous day,Jennifer

I can't sew a button so the fact that you could even entertain this gorgeous dress has me in awe of you...not to mention your Chanel jacket! I don't mind the side boob on Michelle. She wears it well and it is such a lovely dress. xo

Ladies, I have to laugh about the whole side boob thing. It's not unlike a Rorschach test! I'm wondering if her arms at her side covered the peek-a-boob most of the evening? I didn't see the SAG awards since I don't have cable. XO, Jill

I can sew buttons and cross stitch, but sewing a dress or a jacket or anything alike? No way. I admire you for even considering it.The black dress is very lovely. I don't mind the cutouts. The lady looks wonderful and her boobs don't seem to suffer the force of gravity yet ;-) Personally, I would feel awkward wearing it myself, but as long as she felt good and happy in it, fine by me. Have a very HAPPY week xo :-)

I can sew buttons and cross stitch, but sewing a dress or a jacket or anything alike? No way. I admire you for even considering it.The black dress is very lovely. I don't mind the cutouts. The lady looks wonderful and her boobs don't seem to suffer the force of gravity yet ;-) Personally, I would feel awkward wearing it myself, but as long as she felt good and happy in it, fine by me. Have a very HAPPY week xo :-)